Awning



June 30, 1964 L. J. GONNELLO 3,138,832

AWNING Filed Sept. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LAWRENCE J. GONNELLO BY QM ATTORNEY.

June 30, 1964 L. J. GONNELLO 3,138,832

AWNING Filed Sept. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE J. GONNELLO BY gu a:

A TTORNE Y.

June 30, 1964 J. GONNELLO 3,138,832

AWNING Filed Sept. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE J. GONNELLO ATTORNEY.

June 30, 1964 L. J. GONNELLO 3,138,832

AWNING Filed Sept. 6, 1962 4. Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE J. GONNELLO BY QM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,138,832 AWNENG Lawrence J. Gonneilo, Lake Arcadia, Amherst Road, Beiehertown, Mass. Filed Sept. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 221,760 4 Claims. (Cl. 20--57.5)

This invention relates generally to new and useful structural refinements and improvements in .awnings or canopies which may be used for windows, doors and porches or the like of homes, apartments, and/ or other types of buildings, and comprehends more particularly awnings or canopies of the nonfolding, relatively rigid, multi-slatted, type which are familiarly adapted for more or less permanent attachment to a building wall adjacent a door frame or window frame or other building openmg.

Without intending to place undue limitations upon the scope of the invention beyond what may be required by the state of the prior art, the particular embodiment may be briefly described as a window awning or door canopy of the permanent type wherein a plurality of horizontallydisposed angularly-inclined roof panels or blades or slats are fixed or rigidly maintained in respective spaced overlapping positions as to each other when in assembled operative position and are of a design, vconfiguration and dimension as to be compactly packaged with the other related components of the structural unit for shipping or storing purposes when in disassembled non-operative posi tion.

It will be helpful to an understanding of the invention to consider some of the more essential features and aspects of the prior art and of the present invention, wherefore same may be kept in mind during subsequent reading of the detailed description of the practical embodiments of my improvements and illustrations thereof in the hereinto annexed drawings. I e As known, awnings for windows of homes take many forms, one of the earliest and still popular form being the canvas awning of the folding variety with the frame thereof being lifted by ropes or the like to furl the awning closely against the window or door frame being served. Such are classifiable as of the impermanent type due to the relatively short life of their canvas parts and the omnipresent possibility of their being torn away from their moorings by high winds, not to mention their being faded and weather beaten by the elements.

Of the more permanent type, awnings have been heretofore known and made from wooden slats or the like and more recently from metal, but same have been generally cumbersome and have hardly loaned themselves to assembly from, and dissassembly into, kit formby the aver could readily and quickly assemble into an awning which, appearancewise and otherwise, would be marketably ac-.'

ceptable. Such prior art structures as have appeared have been attended with certain serious disadvantages and limitations which havemilitated against their more gen eral use. In contradistinction, I have discovered that the prior, art difficulties anddisadvantages are overcome and new advantages accrue when and as the structure of 3,138,832 Patented June 30, 1964 my invention is employed. Until now, no satisfactory construction has been forthcoming which combines in a unique manner the multiplicity of desirable features in a construction of this type.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an inventively novel awning construction of the type wherein a multiplicity of interconnectible roof panels or slats, each being slightly arcuate in cross-section and being provided with suitably-rolled opposite longitudinal edges, are jointed in overlapping and interlocking manner at their adjacent mating edges to allow a composite structure comprised of resiliently-interconnected units and obviating the necessity for other supplemental securing means so common to prior art constructions.

Same offers an improvement over known prior art constructions of a kindred nature in that the awning is made of materials which are strong and light, easilyfabricated, assembled and installed, and allowing a smart appearance when in operative position, with the slats extending transversely of the structure and with one endmost or inboard slot being articulately jointed to a means stationarily secured to a building wall, door, window casing or the like, and with the other endmost or outboard slat being articulately joined to a rain gutter means.

The invention envisions an awning with components which are so designed as to be adapted to be fabricated from aluminum or other light and fairly strong material, so as to be transversely-flexible and longitudinallyrigid to form a unique, highly durable, structure simple in design and easily and readily assembled and/or disassembled so as to lend itself for service in do-it-yourself kits wherefore even the most inexperienced and non-mechanically inclined persons can install same.

For further comprehension of the invention, let it be stated that another salient object hereof is the provision of an awning which may be sold in unassembled form, within a conveniently-handled package, and readily and quickly assembled and mounted in place by the purchaser thereof for use selectively as an awning for a window or the like or a canopy for a door or the like at the will of the user.

As another refinement hereof, I-teach the use of slats which preferentially, though not obligatorily will be multicolored so as to lend a pleasing appearance to the assembled structure, which slats may be of metal or of translucent material, such as plaster reinforced with fiberglass or equivalent material.

Another particular object Worthy of notice resides in the provision of connecting frame instrumentalities whereby novel fitting means between the slats and frame components', heretofore unrealizable, are achieved... Another dominant aim hereof is to provide a structure serving alternatively as an awning or canopy and incorporating return arms having outer extremities configured for novel releasable embraceriient with a longitudinally-slotted rain gutter," and inner extremities novelly interengaged with a uniquehinge mounting strip having means for a'unique articulated connection with a house mounting .strip in manner whereby the uppermost slat of the pluralitysthereof serves a shielding or guarding function providing against unwanted entry of light and/or rain at the junction between building and awning 6r canopy.

The organization of structure hereof offers a simple and easily installedtaggroupment of parts that-includes incross-section, to allow a main body portion to be fixedly secured to building wall W adjacent door D or window frame F or other opening as by anchor screws 41 or equivalent through suitable apertures provided therein or by other suitable means and a lowermost, longitudinally-extending, outwardly projecting lip portion46. See FIG. 6.

To allow the canopy or awning to be sold in unassembled form and to be easily and quickly assembled by the purchaser thereof, anchor screws 41 and other hardware would be included with the packaged kit.

House mounting strip 40 will be observed to extend throughout the full width of the canopy or awning to be formed.

Hinge amount 16, alternately denominated as the top of the frame, will be observed to be generally T-shaped in cross section defining a pair of curved lips 52 and 54 projecting outwardly from its main body portion in oppositely facing manner, curved lip 52 being delineated the upper lip and curved lip 54 being delineated the lower lip.

Lower lip 54 will be telescopically receivable within curved lip portion 46 of house mounting strip 40 so as to allow articulation of binge mount 16 relative to house mounting strip 40; That is, lower lip 54 and curved lip portion 46, both constituting rolled, longitudinallyextending, edges of their respective components and being complementally configured, may betelescopically interengaged by sliding one within the other thereby forming an articulatable joint therebetween.

In assembled form, inboard flange or upper rolled edge 30 of uppermost or topmost roofpanel 12 will be similarly interconnected with the complemental upper lip 52 of hinge mount 16.

As will hereinafter appear, roof panels 12 of the plurality thereof are interengaged to form a unitary structure and are tightly and tautly held relative to and between hinge mount 16 and rain gutter 18.

The inboard terminals of each of the rafters 14 are flattened aswebs otlare otherwise configured to facilitate securement to the hinge mount16, extending transversely relative thereto, bolts 62 being extended through aligned apertures in said webs 6t and binge mount 16 and nuts 64 being threaded thereon. Preferentially, though not obligatorily, rafters 14, of identical configuration so as to be interchangeable, will extend outwmdly from hinge mount 16 in laterally-spaced relation to each other, one adjacent each side edge of the composite structure.

Rafters 14 will be of generally smoothly arcuate form so as to project outwardly from and downwardly of hinge support the un er surfaces of the roof panels resting thereon. j V

To improve the overall appearance and to facilitate supporting the inclined portiono'f the awning, the slats which are arranged on the rafters preferably will extend a distance laterally therebeyond to provide an overhang.

Rain gutter 18 will be U or channel-shape in cross-section, with its open side normally facing upwardly for the return arms74, said return arms 174 each having an of the longitudinal axis of the adjacent outermost roof panel and with which it engaged in manner to be explained' in due course.

1 The inboard longtiudinal edge of rain gutter 18'will be provided with an inwardly-projecting" panel-engaging ledge 68 for purposes subsequently to be observed figuration and constituting .side trim maybe engaged in outboard lowermost terminals 72 of rafters or stringers movement relative thereto.

The outboard flange or curled or rolled edge 32 of outermost roof panel 12 will be observed to be engaged around the longitudinally-extending panel-engaging ledge 68, as best shown in FIG. 5. g

It is to be appreciated that the aforedescribed engaging means, first of innermost roof panel 12 with hinge mount 16, and second, of outermost roof panel 12 with rain gutter 18, provide the only fastening means between the complex or roof panels and the unitary frame, the use of supplementary fastening means thereby being dispensed with.

The respective roof panels are held tautly and firmly in position in their overlapping relationship with an arcuate or bowed curvature being imparted thereto upon assembly, as will appear.

The materials of the structure are such that, after having been sprung into position, the slats are so tightly grasped and held by the cooperating means that there is no possibility of any rattle or vibration of any of the individual slats or portions thereof, so that the awning is quiet in high winds.

With no parts to move relative to each other, there is no Wear so that the life of the structure is considerably prolonged.

With particular reference to door canopy 14) (FIGS. 1 and 2), a means for maintaining rain gutter 18 and theoutboard side of the roof panel complex in proper outwardly-projecting relation is shown to comprise a pair of laterally-spaced, parallel-disposed return arms 74 extendable in a generally horizontal plane between house wall W and their related rain gutter 13.

The outboard extremities of the return arms will each be of flattened web shape and configured in a hook shape as at '76 to complement the outer portion of the U-shaped outer configuration of the rain gutter in conforming manner serving to embrace and support same, said hook shaped portion terminating in an inwardly. and downwardly directed lip 78 extendable over the outboard longitudinal edge of the rain gutter 18, serving positively to engage the rain gutter.

The inboard extremities of the return arms may likewise be of flattened or web form and be suitably apertured to facilitate ready attachment to conventional brackets 80 by known means such as screws 82.

In the case of said door canopy of FIGS. 1 and 2, a scroll member 84 such as of S-shaped or other pleasing configuration extends between and is secured to house wall W and each return arm 74 in a generally angular disposition, preferably being of flattened weblike form at suitable locations therealong to facilitate securement to wall W and its relatedreturn arm 74 as by screws 86.

The scroll members will provide additional support means for the door canopy and additionally will add a measure of beauty to the composite structure.

In the case of said window awning of FIGS. 3 and 4, scroll members% will preferentially be omitted androturn arms 174 will be substituted for the aforedescribed inboard terminal secured in conventional manner to brackets 180 stationarily fixed to the'window frame as by screws 182 and extending generally horizontally forwardlyltoward a smoothly downwardly curving portion 175 fand having an outboard terminal as previously described. I

In thecases, both ofdoor canopy 1t) and window awning 110, a channel member of generally U-shaped conaccommodating. and holding manner with thevertical The rain gutter will be suitably'apertured along its'inboard side at 7am receivethe complementally-configured edgesofthe slats at each side of thestructure as by being snapped thereover so as to conceal the said edges and to'lend beauty to the composite structure.

9 4 pair of scroll members arranged in laterally spaced relation, each scroll of the pair thereof being fixed to the building and to one of said return arms.

3. In an awning as set forth in claim 1 including resilient bufier means disposed between said roof panels and said rafters.

4. In an awning as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roof panels of the plurality thereof comprise a multiplicity of interconnectible slats, each slat being slightly arcuate in cross-section and being provided with rolled opposite l0 longitudinal edges, said slats being jointed in overlapping and interlocking manner at their adjacent mating edges to provide a composite structure of resiliently interconnected units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,785,445 Phillips Mar. 19, 1957 2,822,586 McNeil Feb. 11, 1958 2,949,649 Macy et a1. Aug. 23, 1960 RESILIENT GASKET Filed June 21, 1962 M r j INVENTOR.

. N F 3 RICHARD C NEUMA 

1. IN AN AWNING FOR A BUILDING OPENING, A SUBSTANTIALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED MOUNTING STRIP FIXED TO THE BUILDING, RAFTERS ARRANGED IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION AND HAVING HINGE MOUNTS AT THEIR UPPER ENDS CONNECTIBLE TO SAID MOUNTING STRIP FOR DOWNWARD DISPOSITION OF SAID RAFTERS, EACH OF SAID HINGE MOUNTS INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER CURVED LIPS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM WITH SAID LOWER LIP BEING TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MOUNTING STRIP, A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ROOF PANELS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID RAFTERS, THE UPPERMOST OF SAID ROOF PANELS HAVING A ROLLED EDGE PIVOTALLY CONNECTIBLE TO SAID CURVED UPPER LIP OF SAID HINGE MOUNTS, A LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED RAIN GUTTER APERTURED ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF TO RELEASABLY RECEIVE THE COMPLEMENTALLY-CONFIGURED LOWER ENDS OF SAID RAFTERS, THE LOWERMOST OF SAID ROOF PANELS HAVING A ROLLED EDGE RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE IN THE SLOT OF SAID RAIN GUTTER, AND LATERALLY SPACED RETURN ARMS PIVOTED AT ONE END TO THE BUILDING AND CONFIGURED IN A HOOK SHAPE AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS TO COMPLEMENT AND EMBRACE THE OUTER CONFIGURATION OF SAID RAIN GUTTER, SAID HOOK SHAPED PORTION TERMINATING IN AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED LIP EXTENDABLE OVER THE OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID RAIN GUTTER AND INTO THE SLOT THEREOF. 